My name is Simon, and my real Russian
name is Vsevolod. I will appreciate any additions to this list of
common mistakes. Just email me.
The main page is located at
This page was last modified on April 16, 2001
(x) shows the number of enries
| Words same in Russian
but different in English (29) |
Word order (8) | Non-trivial
translation (idioms) (28) |
|||
| Prepositions (16) | No preposition in English (3) | No preposition in Russian (9) | Pronouns (10) | Articles (3) | |
| Verb tenses (9) | Verbs in indefinite form (7) | Adjectives / adverbs (1) | Exceptions (1) | Awkward sentences (1) | |
The story of this page (and where to find more examples).
| Russian source | Translation | Correct usage |
| Пожалуйста (в просьбе) | Please | |
| Пожалуйста (ответ на "спасибо") | You are welcome | |
| Граница
(человеческого знания и в др. романтических смыслах) |
Frontier | |
| Граница (между странами) | Border | |
| Причина (порождающая сущность) | Cause | What is the cause of rain? |
| Причина (повод, побуждение) | Reason | You have a good reason for coming. |
| Тень (место, куда не
попадает солнечный свет) |
Shade | |
| Тень (темные очертания предмета) | Shadow | |
| Место (положение в пространстве) | Place | |
| Место (свободное место) | Room | Is there some more room in the bag? |
| Место (сиденье) | Seat | Are there free seats in the bus? |
| Красить (забор) | Paint | |
| Красить (волосы) | Dye | |
| Повесил (одежду) (прош. вр.) | Hung | |
| Повесил (преступника) (прош. вр.) | Hanged | |
| Порвать (случайно) | Tear | Tear a coat on a nail |
| Порвать (уничтожить) | Tear up | Tear up the letter |
| Сделан из (состоит из) | Made of | Tables are made of wood |
| Сделан из (произведен из) | Made from | Bread is made from wheat |
| Делать (задание), выполнять | Do | |
| Делать (предмет), создавать | Make | |
| Победить (выиграть) | Win | |
| Победить (обыграть) | Beat | |
| Утонуть (умереть) | To be drowned | |
| Утонуть (пойти ко дну) | To sink | |
| Ранен (на войне) | Wounded | |
| Ранен (в катастрофе) | Injured | |
| Убедить (доказать что-то) | Convince | |
| Убедить (уговорить сделать) | Persuade | |
| Принести (прийти, имея с собой) | Bring | |
| Принести (пойти, взять и вернуться) | Fetch | |
| Учиться (обучаться в абстрактном смысле) | Learn | He learns well |
| Учиться (предмету) | Study | He studies physics |
| Учить | Teach | |
| Последний (завершающий) | Last | |
| Последний (самый свежий) | Latest | Latest news |
| Хороший | Good | The news is not so good |
| Хорошо | Well | I feel well |
| Высокий (о человеке) | Tall | |
| Высокий (о предмете) | High | |
| Чистый (не грязный) | Clean | |
| Чистый (прозрачный) | Clear | Clear water |
| Как (похоже на) | Like | You do not look like your brother |
| Как (так же, как и) | As | You do not play the game as I do |
| Кроме (не считая) | Except | There was nobody there except me |
| Кроме (в дополнение) | Besides | I have other cars besides this one. |
| Лежать | Lie | |
| Положить | Lay | |
| Расти | Grow | |
| Вырасти | Grow up | |
| Украсть | Steal | |
| Обокрасть | Rob | |
| Подняться | Rise | |
| Поднять | Raise | |
| Нанять (работника) | Hire | |
| Нанять (машину) | Rent | |
| Соответствующий (уместный, подходящий) | Appropriate, Relevant |
Your dress in not appropriate for the occasion |
| Соответствующий (стоящий на том же месте) | Corresponding | Each coat hangs on the corresponding peg |
| Сдавать экзамен (с неизвестным итогом) | Take an exam | |
| Сдать экзамен | Pass an exam | |
| Не сдать экзамен | Fail an exam | |
| Общий (есть у нескольких объектов) | Common | They have a common goal |
| Общий (обобщенный случай) | General | In general, this is how it works... |
| Общий (общая ванная) | Shared |
Word order
| Wrong | Correct | Translation | Notes |
| An old fridge there is in the room | There is an old fridge in the room | В комнате есть старый холодильник | |
| A lying on the floor mattress | A mattress lying on the floor | Лежащий на полу матрац | |
| Put there my things | Put my things there | Положи туда мои вещи | |
| Use new details for proper work | To ensure proper work, use new parts. |
Для лучшей
работы используйте новые детали |
|
| The guests will be tomorrow here | The guests will be here tomorrow | Гости будут завтра здесь | The adverb of place must come first |
| Is the room enough large? | Is the room large enough? | Комната достаточно большая? | |
| The ordered goods have not arrived | The goods ordered have not arrived | Заказанные товары не прибыли | |
| The two first chapters | The first two chapters | Две первых главы |
| Russian phrase | Wrong translation | Correct translation | Notes |
| Визитная карточка | Visit(ing) card | Business card | |
| Горячие пожелания (в письме) | Hot wishes | Best regards | |
| Курсы (языковые) | Courses | Course | |
| Выполнить следующие шаги | Do the following steps | Go through the following steps | |
| Он хорошо выспался и на другой день чувствовал себя лучше |
He slept well and was better the other day |
He slept well and was better the next day |
|
| У меня много работы | I have much work | I am very busy | |
| Чтобы это сделать, мне потребуется час |
I will need an hour to do that | It will take me an hour to do that | |
| Я видел странный сон | I saw a strange dream | I had a strange dream | |
| Она всегда говорит правду | She always says the truth | She always tells (speaks) the truth | |
| Ты следил за игрой? | Did you follow the game? | Did you watch the game? | |
| Учитель поставил мне хорошую оценку |
The teacher put me a good grade | The teacher gave me a good grade | |
| Я хочу подстричь волосы | I am going to cut my hair | I am going to have my hair cut | |
| Это лекарство творит чудеса | This medicine makes miracles | This medicine works miracles | |
| Сегодня утром | Today morning | This morning | |
| Он родился в 1812 году | He born in 1812 | He was born in 1812 | |
| Он сильнее всех | He is stronger that anybody | He is stronger than anybody else | |
| Несчастный был застрелен | The unfortunate was shot dead | The unfortunate man was shot dead | BUT this is allowed for plural: "the poor envy the rich" |
| У меня есть только два-три друга | I have only two-three friends | I have only two or three friends | |
| Лучше иди домой | Better go home | You had better go home | |
| Это грязно, брось это | It is dirty; throw it | It is dirty; throw it away | |
| Не думаю | I do not think | I do not think so | |
| Я ушел из футбола | I have now left football | I have now given up football | |
| Он не заботится о своих деньгах | He does not care for his money | He does not take care of his money | |
| Многие люди расстались
с жизнью на море |
Many people lost their life at sea | Many people lost their lives at sea | |
| Я хорошо себя чувствую | I feel myself good | I am feeling fine | Never, NEVER use the wrong variant. Ask your American friends why. |
| Раздеваться (в прихожей, гардеробе) | Take off one's clothes | Take off one's coat | |
| Правильный (равносторонний) треугольник | Right triangle | Equilateral triangle | Right-angled triangle - это прямоугольный треугольник |
| Wrong | Correct | Translation | Notes |
| I'll come about May 20th | I'll come around May 20th | Я приеду примерно 20 мая | |
| Your call in the embassy | Your call to the embassy | Ваш звонок в посольство | |
| In this moment | At the moment | Сейчас, в настоящее время | |
| Accuse for theft | Accuse of theft | Обвинять в краже | |
| Consist from sand | Consist of sand | Состоять из песка | |
| Covered by snow | Covered with snow | Покрытый снегом | |
| Cure (die) from an illness | Cure (die) of an illness | Вылечить (умереть) от болезни | |
| Depend from him | Depend on him | Зависеть от него | |
| I spend much time for my work | I spend much time on my work | Я трачу много времени на работу | |
| I am going to England for learning English |
I am going to England to learn English |
Я еду в Англию изучать английский | |
| They played football under the rain |
They played football in the rain | Они играли в футбол под дождем | |
| I bought a book at 5 dollars | I bought a book for 5 dollars | Я купил книгу за 5 долларов | "For" is used with an actual sum |
| I cannot buy it for such a price | I cannot buy it at such a price | Я не могу купить это за такую цену | "At" is used if no sum is given |
| I have other cars except this | I have other cars besides this | Кроме этой, у меня есть и другие машины |
|
| He has been ill from last Friday | He has been ill since last Friday | Он болен с прошлой пятницы | |
| I will start doing it after a week | I will start doing it in a week | Я займусь этим через неделю |
| Wrong | Correct | Translation |
| To call at his number | To call his number | Позвонить по его номеру |
| Enter into a room | Enter a room | Войти в комнату |
| Leave from England | Leave England | Уехать из Англии |
| Wrong | Correct | Translation |
| Many bytes information | Many bytes of information | Много байт информации |
| Graduate a school | Graduate from a school | Закончить школу |
| He came and asked my book | He came and asked for my book | Он пришел и попросил мою книгу |
| She explained me the matter | She explained the matter to me | Она объяснила мне, в чем дело |
| They were listening music | They were listening to the music | Они слушали музыку |
| He has not replied me yet | He has not replied to me yet | Он мне еще не ответил |
| They are searching money | They are searching for money | Они ищут деньги |
| Think a number | Think of a number | Задумай число |
| I will wait you | I will wait for you | Я подожду тебя |
| Wrong | Correct | Translation | Notes |
| After it I will leave | After that I will leave | После этого я уйду | |
| Аny your help | Any help from you | Любая твоя помощь | |
| I'm not so rich how I wish | I'm not as rich as I wish | Я не так богат, как хотел бы | |
| I have a brother which studies at school |
I have a brother who studies at school |
У меня есть брат, который
учится в школе |
|
| I know all what he said | I know everything (that) he said | Я знаю все, что он сказал | |
| Who of the two guys is taller? |
Which of the two guys is taller? |
Кто из этих двух парней выше? | |
| You can pick any of these TWO books | You can pick either of these TWO books | Можешь выбрать любую из двух книг |
Use "either" if there are only two objects |
| Both of them did not go swimming | Neither of them went swimming | Они оба не пошли плавать | "Both" changes to "neither" in a negative sentence |
| John has not come also | John has not come either | Джон тоже не пришел | "Also" changes to "either" in a negative sentence |
| How do you call this in English? | What do you call this in English? | Как это называется по-английски? |
Articles
| Wrong | Correct | Translation |
| Half glass of milk | Half a glass of milk | Полстакана молока |
| I play piano | I play the piano | Я играю на пианино |
| I will go to theater | I will go to the theater | Я пойду в театр |
| Wrong | Correct | Translation |
| I'll like to eat | I'd like to eat | Я бы поел |
| Did you went to school yesterday? |
Did you go to school yesterday? |
Ты вчера ходил в школу? |
| He asked me what I am doing | He asked me what I was doing | Он спросил, что я делаю |
| She said that she will come tomorrow |
She said that she would come tomorrow |
Она сказала, что придет
завтра |
| You ought to come yesterday | You ought to have come yesterday You should have come yesterday You had to come yesterday |
Ты должен был прийти вчера |
| I am in this school two years | I have been in this school for two years | Я учусь в этой школе два года |
| The train left before I arrived | The train had left before I arrived | Поезд уехал, прежде чем я пришел |
| I will see you when I will come back | I will see you when I come back | Я увижу тебя, когда вернусь |
| I would wish to know Sanskrit better | I wish (that) I knew Sanskrit better | Я бы хотел лучше знать санскрит |
| Wrong | Correct | Translation |
| He thinks to go to England | He thinks of going to England | Он думает поехать в Англию |
| She insisted to go to London | She insisted on going to London | Она настаивала на том, чтобы поехать в Лондон |
| The rain prevented me to go | The rain prevented me from going | Дождь не дал мне уйти |
| She is used to get up early | She is used to getting up early | Она привыкла рано вставать |
| Have you finished to speak? | Have you finished speaking? | Вы закончили говорить? |
| This movie is worth to see | This movie is worth seeing | Этот фильм стоит посмотреть |
| It's no use to cry | It's no use crying | Нечего плакать |
| Wrong | Correct | Translation |
| As usually, he left his pen at home | As usual, he left his pen at home | Как всегда, он забыл дома ручку |
| Wrong | Correct | Translation |
| Most good | Best | Самый хороший |
| Awkward | Better | Translation |
| I have a cheerful mood | I am in a cheerful mood | Я в хорошем настроении |
The idea for this page as well as the first few examples belong to John Spashko. Some other examples were gathered from my everyday experience, but the majority was taken from the following book:
"Типичные ошибки в английском языке". ТОО "Новина", 1995 год.
This book contains 600 examples and some exercises that help to memorize the rules. I have selected only those that I think are MOST typical for Russians, that is, when direct (word-by-word) translation leads into big trouble.
Also, I express my thanks to the following people who sent their examples and corrections: Sergei Panchernikov Oleg Kontsevoi Vitaly Cooperman Serezha D Rosalind Potapov Eric Szmyt Mark Mitchell Nina Rabkina Victoria Astrova Irina Drob Yuri Shvetsov
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